A Mix of Emotions: Cavs Trade Z for Antawn Jamison

My beloved Cleveland Cavaliers traded their most beloved player (after LeBron James, of course), 34-year-old Zydrunas Ilgauskas, as well as a first-round draft pick for the only weapon the Washington Wizards have (well . . . since they cleaned out Gilbert Arenas’s locker), 33-year-old Antawn Jamison, this week.

While I’m excited about all the championship buzz as well as the fact that adding this piece to the puzzle might just stave off the media’s obsession with James’s possible departure from Cleveland after his contract expires at the end of the season, and while most say trading Z is a “wink wink” move—that the Wizards will buy out the most loyal former-Cavalier’s $10 million contract and the Cavs will sign him again in 30 days—I miss Z.

He stuck with our crappy team for his entire career—long before The Chosen One could even drive—and if we don’t get him back, I’ll be sick about it.

Z is the first person Bron-Bron hugged when they learned they were going to the 2007 NBA Finals.